Kindling briquette



Patented June 5, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE No Drawing. Application December 1, 1932, Serial No. 645,315

1 Claim.

Percent Sawdust and wood shavings 50 Spanish moss Rosin 20 Strainers dross- 10 After thorough tests, we have found the foregoing ingredients in substantially the propor- 20 tions stated and when properly prepared, form briquettes very effective for the purpose de scribed, and capable of being manufactured at very low cost.

In the manufacture of these briquettes, the sawdust, shavings, Spanish moss and strainers dross are thoroughly mixed in substantially the proportions stated; and the mixture is then added to and thoroughly mixed with the proper percentage of rosin, which has been heated to a temperature between 160 and 170 degrees F. This final mixture is then separated into units of the desired size, molded into any desired shape, and allowed to cool into condition adapted for storage and use.

The briquettes will be found very useful in starting fires in stoves, camp fires, furnaces, fireplaces, or any other place where difliculty might be experienced in starting a blaze.

In these briquettes, the rosin is used mainly as a binder. Sawdust and shavings, of course, burn very readily when thoroughly dried or parched; and may be replaced by linters cotton. Dry Spanish moss is also very inflammable, and obtainable in most of the Southern States, at extremely low cost. Strainers dross is a mixture of raw rosin, pine tree straw, pine tree bark and small chips. This dross consists of the residue strained off from the raw gum collected from pine trees preparatory to distillation into spirits of turpentine and extraction of rosin. Pitch or tar may be substituted for rosin as a binder in the manufacture of these briquettes.

The percentage of ingredients may be varied somewhat, according to various climatic conditions prevailing in localities where briquettes of this type may be used. For example, strainers dross, when used in excess in some climates would produce a rather sticky briquette. This is particularly true in Southern States, such as Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, etc. The finished product, therefore, in Southern States would require a somewhat greater percentage of rosin and a lesser percentage of strainers dross than would be required for briquettes intended for use in Northern States, such as Maine and Vermont, and in Canada. It must, therefore, be understood that while in general the proportions given in the formula set out hereinbefore are preferred, they may be varied somewhat to agree with the conditions required by the localities in which the briquettes are intended to be used. In any case, the percentage of strainers dross and rosin may be relatively varied to accord with the localities in which the briquettes are intended to be used, and to make the briquettes convenient for storage and handling.

Ordinarily, these briquettes will be produced in a size corresponding to that of a small bar of soap so that they may be convenient to handle and to store. However, the invention is not to be considered as limited to any particular size or shape.

What we claim is:

A kindling b-riquette of the character specified including as ingredients, in the substantial proportions: sawdust and wood shavings, fifty percent; Spanish moss, twenty percent; strainer's dross, ten percent; and rosin, twenty percent.

JESSE A. PRATER. WILLIAM D. WHITE. 

